Robert Tyre Jones, Jnr 1902-1971

Born on St. Patrick's Day,100 years ago in Atlanta Georgia. To his parents he was known as "Rob" - to the rest of the world he was known as, simply "Bobby Jones".

Bobby's father, Robert Puredus Jones, an natural athlete. A superb baseball player,he was "drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This natural athleticism passed down to Bobby. At age 6 he had taken to golf,and was to be seen at East Lake Country Club, trailing the professional Stewart Maiden,whose swing he imitated. Bobby never had any formal golf training. By age 11 he had broken 80 for the first time.

At 13, he broke the course record with a 73 at Druid Hills GC to become the club champion.

In June 1917, aged 15, he became the youngest-ever winner of the Southern Amateur Championship.  The same year , he played in an exhibition match for amateurs against Professionals at Baltusrol,New Jersey,and defeated a future US  Open champion Cyril Walker. In spite of this success,Bobby had a problem with his temperament. Like many before and since,he was trying too hard to hit the perfect shot,and berating himself if he didn't pull it off.

On his first visit to the British Open 1921,the 19 year old began very well,with rounds of 78 and 74 , but in the third round he went out in 46 , took a 6 at the tenth, then totally lost his composure at the short eleventh,where he picked his ball out of the pot bunker, and walked of the course in disgust.        He completed the fourth round with a brilliant 72.

Around this time Bobby met up with the journalist O.B.Keller,who would have a profound influence on the young Jones. Keeler convinced Bobby that he could become the greatest golfer.In 1923 this philosophy began to bear fruit,and in 1923 won his first US Open.

In 1924,he won the US Amateur. and in 1925 won his second US Open.

In 1926 he was beaten in the US Open final,but came to Britain and won the Open at Royal Lytham,though  he is the only Open champion who's paid for the privilege of winning. During the Open ,he forgot his player's badge and was refused entry.Without fuss, Mr. Jones went to the public entrance,paid 5 shilling's,went in and won.

Between 1926-27 Bobby attended Law School, and passed the Bar Exam after one year's study! In 1927,after one year of study, at Oakmount,he tied for eleventh place in the US Open-the only time in his nine year stretch he didn't finish as a winner or runner-up.

However,he became US Amateur champion for the third time,and successfully defended his British Open at St Andrew's. It was at the British Open of 1927 he asked the Royal &Ancient Club if they could honor him by keeping the trophy in the club house where it belonged.

1928 saw him win his fourth US Amateur title,and come second in the US Open, but went on to Win it again in 1929.

The four major events in golf at that time were the Amateur Championship of the USA and Great Britain.The US Open and the Open Championship of Great Britain. Bobby had never won the British Amateur,but in 1930 at St Andrews he defeated Roger Wethered in the final. After a short holiday in Paris ,he arrived at Hoylake for the Open,and duly won to lift his third "Claret Jug". Back in the USA he collected his fourth US Open. The scene was set for the final leg of a "grand slam" of the for major titles-the US Amateur.Bobby completed the "Impregnable Quadrilateral of Golf.

Two month's later, in November 1930 Bobby Jones announced his retirement.

In 1936 Bobby Jones stopped off at St.Andrews for a casual game of golf,during a short holiday in England and Scotland.Word spread quickly,and by the time he drove off,4000 towns people were lining the fairways,just to see him play one more time,and say hello.

It would be 22 years before he became back again.That in 1958,by which time his affliction with syringeomyelia, a debilitating neurological disease,had long ended his day's as a golfer.

When asked how he coped with this painful spinal condition,his reply belied the suffering he endured:  "Remember, he said,we play the ball as it lies".

In a moving ceremony, Bobby Jones was made a "Freeman of St,Andrews" Bobby completed his acceptance speech with the works "I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St,Andrews and would still have a rich and full life". As he left St,Andrew's town hall (Younger Hall)  The crowd spontaneously  arouse and sang "Will ye no come back again".

Thirteen years later, on the 18th,of December 1971, golfers on the Old Course stopped play as the flag on The R&A Clubhouse was lowered to have-mast-with the news that Bobby Jones had passed away.

See his clubs click

Websites  www.bobbyjones.com   www.bobbyjonesgolfexhibit.com

NAME: Robert Tyre Jones jnr

FAMILY: Wife Mary,daughter's Clara,Mary, son Bob.

MAJORS

(1930) With the Original Grand Slam Trophies

British Open 3  US Open 4   US Amateur 5 British Amateur 1

              Walker cup player

     1922-1924-1926   Captain- 1928-1930